[08/30/06 - 12:00 AM]Twentieth Television Joins with Shine Ltd for Viewer Participation Program ''My Games Fever''; Program to Launch on All FOX Owned-And-Operated MyNetworkTV Stations in December 2006

[via press release from MyNetworkTV]

Twentieth Television Joins with SHINE LTD for Viewer Participation Program ''My Games Fever''; Program to Launch on All Fox Owned-and-Operated MyNetworkTV Stations in December 2006

LOS ANGELES & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 30, 2006--Twentieth Television and SHINE LTD will bring the live program, "My Games Fever," to all Fox owned-and-operated MyNetworkTV stations in December 2006. The show consists of multiple entertaining games that embrace home viewer participation through text messaging and online interaction and will be presented commercial-free. The announcement was made today by Paul Buccieri, President, Programming, Twentieth Television, and Shine CEO Elisabeth Murdoch.

Inspired by the hugely popular UK genre of participation television, the program will be live weekdays, from 1-3 p.m. ET/12-2 p.m. CT. Further distribution is targeted for early 2007. "My Games Fever" will be executive produced by Debbie Mason, a specialist in participation television, responsible for the launch and the running of some of the UK's leading channels and show formats in this area.

According to Buccieri, "This proven television genre has enjoyed huge success in the UK and the time has come to bring it to the United States. 'My Games Fever's' high-energy, inclusive entertainment will appeal across all audience demographics and we are excited to provide this cutting-edge and emerging genre to American viewers."

Murdoch stated, "Shine is proud to be undertaking the first major network commission for the US market in this genre. The UK production team we have assembled has extensive experience in this area and they are hugely enthusiastic to be bringing this new and exciting format to the US."

Fox Television Stations President Dennis Swanson stated, "'My Games Fever' is a perfect fit for our stations -- its seamless, fast-paced programming grabs viewers and keeps them engaged. The program's mix of entertainment and interactive television is a winning combination."

Founded in 2001 by Elisabeth Murdoch and based in London, Shine is one of the UK's fastest growing independent production companies, producing a broad range of critically-acclaimed, award-winning programming that air in the United Kingdom and internationally.

The Fox Television Stations group, headed by Chairman Roger Ailes, is one of the nation's largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, comprising 35 stations in 26 markets and covering nearly 45% of U.S. television homes. This includes six duopolies in the top 10 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Houston; as well as duopolies in Minneapolis, Phoenix and Orlando. Baltimore is a MyNetworkTV station.

A leader in the U.S. program production and distribution arena, Twentieth Television provides a wide array of first-run and off-network programming, as well as feature film packages, to the syndication and cable marketplaces. On September 5, 2006, the company will launch the primetime drama strips "Desire" and "Fashion House" (A "Secret Obsessions" series) on the new general entertainment broadcast television network MyNetworkTV.

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